Gaze Over the Options

Do you look at the world through rose-colored glasses? Do you love being in love -- or being around other people who are? Do old movies make you cry? Would nothing-please you more than a moonlit night, a romantic carriage ride, a jug of wine, and thou?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, you are a true romantic. And what could be better than finding a job that allows you to combine your romantic instincts with a way to make a living?

In Careers for Romantics, you will find a selection of professions with a variety of background and training requirements, but they all have one common thread -- they're ideal for the dreamy romantic.

Romantics possess qualities above and beyond their dreamy natures, and they are as diverse as the areas of interests to explore. Some are thrilled to find an outlet for their creative talents; others enjoy working with their hands or manipulating words. Still others find their niches using their organizational and business skills. Certainly, almost all romantics have excellent people skills -- a definite plus for most careers.

In this book, we will examine carefully more than a dozen careers that are ideal for romantics. (If you put your thinking cap on, you can probably come up with scores of other options to add to the list.) Some allow you to be independently self-employed; others will suggest possible employers for whom you can work.

Matchmakers

"Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match..." For some romantics helping others to find their soul mates is a rewarding experience. Perhaps you've already brought together single friends and watched as the romance grew and prospered. Wouldn't it be fun to put this particular talent to good use and make money doing it? All over the country, dating and introduction services have sprung up, providing boundless career opportunities for the talented matchmaker. Chapter 2 will show you all the ins and outs.

Romance Writers

Romance books have captured the largest audience of America's reading public. If you have a way with words and a persistent nature, then Chapter 3 will show you how to get started.

But writing romance novels is not the only outlet for the true romantic. You'll also learn how to start your own creative business, writing love letters for hire.

Flower Power

The floral industry coined the expression "Say it with flowers" years ago, and romantics have been doing just that ever since. For an inside look at the different careers open to flower lovers, turn to Chapter 4.

Chocolate Lovers

Some people think that a good piece of chocolate is better than... well, better than most anything else. And, no, this isn't a suggestion to get a job with the Hershey's factory -- although, that's not a bad idea at all. In Chapter 5 you'll meet a chocolatier who puts his romantic talents to work, creating unusual gifts designed to bypass the stomach and go right to the heart.

Bridal Finery

Nothing is as beautiful as a glowing bride. Whether designing and selling bridal gowns or veils or helping select gowns for attendants, romantics can find satisfying careers helping brides shine on the special day. See Chapter 6 for a firsthand account from a bridal shop owner.

The Big Event

Nothing is more romantic than a storybook wedding, and though many brides-to-be do all the planning themselves, more and more rely on the services of professionals. In Chapter 6, you'll also see how wedding consultants and event planners make sure the wedding goes off without a hitch.

A Meal To Remember

A romantic meal for two (with a glittering diamond waiting at the bottom of a wine glass) or a catered affair for a wedding party of a hundred or more provide ample opportunities for satisfying careers. Chapter 7 will tell you what a catering career is like.

Beauty Secrets

Before stepping out in front of the camera, the last thing a bride takes care of is her hair and makeup. Opportunities abound for skilled hairstylists and makeup artists to help create a romantic look for a beautiful bride. Read Chapter 8 for inside information on what these careers are like.

Lasting Memories

Photographers and videographers specialize in wedding photography and create lasting memories of these romantic occasions. In Chapter 9, you will learn how to get started in these careers.

The Honeymooners

For every successful honeymoon there is a smiling travel agent behind the scenes, planning and scheduling and ensuring that the newlyweds have a memorable vacation. Out of all the industries worldwide, travel and tourism continue to grow at an astounding rate. Almost everyone hopes to go away for at least one week a year, and anniversary and post-wedding trips make up the bulk of those trips. This provides ideal career possibilities for romantics with an interest in travel and a flair for detail. See Chapter 10 to learn how to get started in the travel business.

Idyllic Hideaways

Most people see operating a bed-and-breakfast or historic inn as a romantic enterprise, but successful romantics also have to have a practical side to their natures. Although patrons might view the hideaway experience as romantic -- and it certainly is -- it is also a business that requires hard work and long hours, as well as healthy start-up capital. If retiring to an out-of-the-way place and running your own inn has always been your dream, read in Chapter 10 how another couple made a go of it.

Romantic Rides

What romantic honeymoon would be complete without an old-fashioned carriage ride through the park on a moonlit night? In Chapter 10, you'll meet an entrepreneur who put his romantic instincts to work in a successful horse and buggy concession.

People involved with romantic work give of themselves in many different capacities, providing a variety of valuable services. If you're reading this book, chances are you're already considering a career in one of the many areas of this fun and wide-open category.

But perhaps you're not sure of the working conditions the different fields offer or which area would suit your personality, skills, and lifestyle the most. There are several factors to consider when deciding which sector to pursue. Each field carries with it different levels of responsibility and commitment. Some also require financial resources to get started. To identify occupations that will match your expectations, you need to know what each job entails.

Ask yourself the following questions and make note of your answers. Then, as you go through the chapters, compare your requirements to the information provided inside. It will help you pinpoint the fields that would interest you and eliminate those that would clearly be the wrong choice.

• How much time are you willing to commit to training? Some skills can be learned on the job or in a year or two of formal training; others can take considerably longer.

• Do you want to work behind a desk, either at home or in a busy office, or would you prefer to be out and about?

• Can you handle a certain amount of stress on the job, or would you prefer a quiet, work-alone environment?

• How much money do you expect to earn starting out and after you have a few years' experience under your belt? Salaries and earnings vary greatly in each chosen profession.

• How much independence do you require? Do you want to be your own boss or will you be content as a salaried employee?

• Can you pay attention to detail, handle paperwork, bookkeeping, and busy schedules?

Knowing what your expectations are, then comparing them to the realities of the work will help you make informed choices.

The training required for the careers covered in this book vary greatly. Some positions require no more than a high school education. Others demand that you have special talents or creative skills plus some prior work experience.

In the following chapters you will find the requirements for each field.

As with training requirements, salaries vary widely from position to position. Factors such as the size of the company or the region of the country can determine salary levels more than job complexity or the level of the candidate's education and experience.

Many of the careers in this book are for those willing to be self-employed. That means having start-up capital available and business know-how to make a good living. How inventive you are and how willing you are to create your own opportunities can affect the size of your income.

In Appendix A you will find professional associations for many of the career paths explored in this book. Most offer booklets and pamphlets with career information. Some are free; others might have a nominal charge of one or two dollars. A phone call or letter will have information in the mail to you within a few days.

In addition to professional associations, many reference books exist that are related to the careers discussed in this book. Before embarking upon a new career, it's a good idea to read up on it as much as possible. Turn to Appendix B for more information.